After a four-year hiatus, the Belgian sports-reality show De Container Cup is set to return for its fourth season on Play4, premiering on April 20, 2026. The revival brings back familiar faces in a recent competitive format, with former professional cyclist Greg Van Avermaet and former Belgian international footballer Jelle Van Damme facing off in the opening episode as team captains.
The show, produced by Woestijnvis, originally aired from April 26, 2020, to September 19, 2022, spanning three seasons and 42 episodes. It was conceived during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic as a compact alternative to traditional sports broadcasting, featuring a seven-discipline challenge held inside a shipping container. Each episode typically drew an average of nearly 350,000 viewers, with peaks reaching 450,000 on Play4.
For Season 4, the core presentation team remains intact, with Pedro Elias and Wesley Sonck returning as hosts, while Carl Dircksens continues in his role as the on-site referee and scorekeeper. The format retains its signature seven-kamp (seven-event) structure, testing athletes across a variety of physical disciplines within the confined container environment.
In the Season 4 premiere, Van Avermaet leads “Team Pedro,” while Van Damme captains “Team Wesley,” a playful nod to the show’s hosts. The episode title, “Greg Van Avermaet vs Jelle Van Damme,” highlights the head-to-head dynamic between the two decorated athletes. Van Avermaet, an Olympic gold medalist in road cycling from Rio 2016 and multiple Classics winner, has transitioned to gravel biking in recent years. Van Damme, who earned 55 caps for the Belgian national team and played for clubs including Club Brugge and Anderlecht, has also embraced endurance sports post-retirement.
According to promotional material from HLN, the duo’s preparation for the show included unexpected elements such as consuming IKEA meatballs and completing military-style drills, reflecting the program’s blend of athletic challenge and lighthearted entertainment. The Nieuwsblad article quotes an unnamed participant expressing the show’s enduring appeal: “Every time you ask yourself if it can still be faster, higher, and better. Yes, therefore.”
The return of De Container Cup comes amid a broader trend of nostalgia-driven sports entertainment in Belgium, with several pandemic-era formats being revived as live sports schedules stabilize. The show’s unique combination of accessible competition, celebrity participation, and studio banter has maintained a cult following despite its absence from television.
Season 4 is scheduled to run through mid-2026, with new episodes airing weekly on Play4. Viewers can stream episodes via the PlayTV platform, and highlights are typically shared across the show’s official social media channels. As the series resumes, it aims to recapture the spirit that made it a ratings success during its initial run, offering a mix of genuine athletic effort and unscripted moments inside the container.
For updates on episode schedules, participant lineups, and behind-the-scenes content, audiences are encouraged to follow Play4’s official announcements and the show’s digital platforms. The premiere episode is available for viewing starting April 20, 2026, marking the long-awaited return of one of Belgium’s most distinctive sports-reality formats.
Want to discuss the return of De Container Cup or share your predictions for Season 4? Join the conversation in the comments below and spread the word to fellow fans of Belgian sports entertainment.
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